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Assessment of Welfare Problems in Broilers: Focus on Musculoskeletal Problems Associated with Their Rapid Growth.

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Title: Assessment of Welfare Problems in Broilers: Focus on Musculoskeletal Problems Associated with Their Rapid Growth.
Authors: Kwon, Byung-Yeon, Park, Jina, Kim, Da-Hye, Lee, Kyung-Woo
Source: Animals (2076-2615); Apr2024, Vol. 14 Issue 7, p1116, 12p
Subject Terms: BROILER chickens, WELFARE state, POULTRY industry, BIRDHOUSES, ORGANIC farming, POULTRY growth, ANIMAL welfare
Abstract: Simple Summary: Animal welfare has become a global concern in the poultry industry. Over the years, broilers have been selectively bred for rapid growth and efficiency, resulting in birds with high body weight with large proportion of breast meat. However, this selective breeding has also led to welfare problems. Since the 2000s, there has been growing interest in alternative production systems that highlight animal welfare and sustainability, including free-range and organic farming methods. In addition, studies have been conducted to provide reliable information to consumers by measuring animal welfare levels. How to accurately assess the state of animal welfare at the farm levels is a central issue in animal welfare research. This review summarized the factors affecting the welfare status of broiler chickens reared in commercial broiler farms. The growth of the broiler industry has been accompanied with concerns over the environmental and social impacts on intensive production systems, as well as the welfare of the animals themselves. As a result, since the 2000s, there has been growing interest in alternative production systems that improve animal welfare and sustainability. In this context, it is important to prioritize the welfare of broilers in commercial production systems and to use reliable welfare indicators to provide consumers with information about the welfare of the animals they consume. Resource-based measures (RBM) are based on assessing the resources available to the birds in terms of their housing, environment, and management practices, such as stocking density, litter quality, lighting and air quality, etc. Outcome-based measures (OBM), also known as animal-based measures, focus on assessing the actual welfare outcomes for the birds, such as footpad dermatitis, hock burn, contamination or damage to feathers, gait score, mortality, etc. These OBM-based measures are one of the more direct indicators of welfare and can help identify any welfare issues. The present review highlighted the factors that affect animal welfare indicators focused on OBMs which can be used in the commercial broiler farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Complementary Index
Description
Abstract:Simple Summary: Animal welfare has become a global concern in the poultry industry. Over the years, broilers have been selectively bred for rapid growth and efficiency, resulting in birds with high body weight with large proportion of breast meat. However, this selective breeding has also led to welfare problems. Since the 2000s, there has been growing interest in alternative production systems that highlight animal welfare and sustainability, including free-range and organic farming methods. In addition, studies have been conducted to provide reliable information to consumers by measuring animal welfare levels. How to accurately assess the state of animal welfare at the farm levels is a central issue in animal welfare research. This review summarized the factors affecting the welfare status of broiler chickens reared in commercial broiler farms. The growth of the broiler industry has been accompanied with concerns over the environmental and social impacts on intensive production systems, as well as the welfare of the animals themselves. As a result, since the 2000s, there has been growing interest in alternative production systems that improve animal welfare and sustainability. In this context, it is important to prioritize the welfare of broilers in commercial production systems and to use reliable welfare indicators to provide consumers with information about the welfare of the animals they consume. Resource-based measures (RBM) are based on assessing the resources available to the birds in terms of their housing, environment, and management practices, such as stocking density, litter quality, lighting and air quality, etc. Outcome-based measures (OBM), also known as animal-based measures, focus on assessing the actual welfare outcomes for the birds, such as footpad dermatitis, hock burn, contamination or damage to feathers, gait score, mortality, etc. These OBM-based measures are one of the more direct indicators of welfare and can help identify any welfare issues. The present review highlighted the factors that affect animal welfare indicators focused on OBMs which can be used in the commercial broiler farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:20762615
DOI:10.3390/ani14071116